Ramsey college receives national award for work with parents

Abbey College in Ramsey has become the first secondary school in Huntingdonshire to be presented with a national award for its work with parents.

Led by assistant headteacher Carole Gawthorp, the school has been working towards the Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA) for the last 18 months.

Parent Forums have been set up, resulting in changes to the school’s website and a series of “How to...” booklets for parents on subjects such as homework and monitoring progress.

Coffee Mornings have been held at Ramsey Library where parents, particularly of children at primary school transferring to Abbey College, have been able to meet staff and ask questions.

A variety of parent-focussed courses have been run on subjects such as “Raising Teens”, “Helping Your Child with KS3 Maths” and “Family Cookery”.

To secure the award, the school had to go through a day-long Ofsted-style inspection which included a presentation, meetings with pupils, governors, parents and teachers as well as the submission of a portfolio outlining the school’s actions and evidence of progress.

Sarah Clark, parent governor and Parents and Friends Association committee member, said: “It was been wonderful to see how the school has encouraged parents to play an active part in its development.

“The initiatives put in place have given a firm structure where parents have a voice and their opinions are valued.”